There is no better high than volunteering. It’s a feel-good, selfish act that I’ve become addicted to over the years. Why selfish? Because of the joy and pride I feel EVERY single time I’ve done it. Sure, I’m out there spending precious hours “giving back”, but the truth is –– the gratification is beyond anything I’ve personally experienced. Best. High. Ever.

Here in Los Angeles, there are so many ways to step up. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is a personal favorite. Did you know that one in seven people is struggling with food insecurity and hunger in Los Angeles County. ONE IN SEVEN. That’s insane.

Since 1973, the L.A. Food Bank has distributed more than 1 billion pounds of food. The Food Bank collects food (both canned and FRESH) from hundreds of resources.

“With the help of 30,000 volunteers annually and an agency network of more than 650 partner agencies, we serve more than 300,000 people on a monthly basis.”

There are several ways you can help the L.A. Food Bank: Organize a group to sort food at one of their warehouses, make a one-time donation or (if it’s within your budget), set up monthly donations.

“Every $1 donated provides enough food for 4 meals to feed hungry children, seniors and families. Community support enables the Food Bank to serve more than 300,000 people on a monthly basis.”

Ready to give back (and have some fun)? There’s an epic event happening on December 22.

After registering, you will receive an email with your “volunteer E ticket” and details on the day. Attached in the email you will also find a release form. Please bring the signed release form and E ticket on May 13th.

L.A. HUNGER FACTS (from the Food Bank website): One in seven people in Los Angeles County is at risk for hunger. They are neighbors, children, seniors, families and friends. We help them by collecting food from various sources including retailers and farmers, and distributing it with the help of more than 650 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other agencies who supply it to those in need. When product is donated to the Food Bank, it often needs to be sorted, cleaned and repackaged. We call this gleaning. Volunteers are needed to assist with the gleaning process everyday.

For Every $1 Donated, The L.A. Food Bank Can Provide Enough Food For 4 Meals.

Our mission (at L.A. Bites Hunger) is simple: To bring our food community together and bring awareness to our local food bank using social media, such as Twitter and FaceBook. Please support us by re-tweeting, liking and sharing with your friends and followers.

L.A. Kitchen’s first annual “Shared Plates” event was a wonderful success! With 550 guests and hosts, we raised $40,000 for L.A. Kitchen. EVERY dollar of that was matched for a total of $80,000. It’s not too late to help us reach our $100,000 goal. Donate here.

What:Taste Of The NFL Dinner with the L.A. Rams! Rams General Manager Les Snead and his wife Kara Henderson will be co-chairing the host committee, and Rams players will be in attendance to sign autographs and mingle with attendees. The evening will include a live and silent auction, signature appetizers from local chefs, specialty cocktails and live entertainment.

Why: To support the L.A.Food Bank. Did you know that one in seven people in L.A. County experiences food insecurity? The L.A. Food Bank mobilizes resources to fight hunger and provides food to 320,000 people every month. Since 1973, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has distributed more than 1 billion pounds of food and in 2015 they distributed 52 million meals. Learn more about L.A. Food Bank here.

L.A. Bites Hunger founder Jo Stougaard wrote this article for the L.A. Times.

The L.A. Kitchen is a nonprofit facility located in L.A.’s Eastside that recovers fresh fruit and vegetables to be used in a culinary arts job-training program for former inmates and young adults leaving the foster care system. They also create healthy meals for low-income seniors. In case you missed the print edition on Saturday, the online link is here.

L.A. Bites Hunger will be organizing volunteer days at the L.A. Kitchen. Please comment with your email if you’d like more information.

Volunteers are needed to collect donations from Albertsons customers and “Stuff-A-Food Bank- Truck”. The Food Drive is located at the Albertsons in Gardena. The address is 1735 W. Artesia Blvd. Gardena, CA 90247.

The event is on air with ABC7’s Alysha Del Valle (L.A.’s Local ABC News). Volunteers are needed for the following shifts on Friday, June 19, 2015:

During tfficult economic times, one out of every six people in Southern California experiences food insecurity. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank serves one million people in Los Angeles County each year, but another 700,000 people need help. Second Harvest Food Bank Orange County helps feed more than 240,000 individuals each month, while the food bank in the Inland Empire serves more than 350,000 people each month. FOOD Share Ventura County is the only regional food bank in the country that provides food year-round to more than 74,500 children, adults, seniors and families each month.